Project Id: 2010NJ221B
Title: Comparative toxicological assessment of gasoline oxygenates MTBE, ETBE and TAME, and their metabolites, in the zebrafish cardiovascular system
Project Type: Research
Start Date: 3/01/2010
End Date: 2/28/2011
Congressional District: NJ-006
Focus Categories: Water Quality, Toxic Substances, Non Point Pollution
Keywords: gasoline oxygenates, MTBE, ETBE, TAME, zebrafish
Principal Investigators: Bonventre, Josephine; Cooper, Keith R
Federal Funds: $ 5,000
Non-Federal Matching Funds: $ 10,000
Abstract: The research proposed here addresses the first priority of the Water Resources Research Act regarding consequences of potential contaminants to water supplies and toxicological impacts on aquatic species. This project compares the toxicological effects of common gasoline oxygenates, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) and tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME), on developing zebrafish (Danio rerio) using morphological and molecular endpoints. In 2008, total production of these specific gasoline oxygenates was approximately 50 thousand barrels per day in the United States (DOE-EIA, 2008). These compounds are currently used in New Jersey and may pose a threat to groundwater and surface water quality. The toxicological studies proposed here may be helpful in risk assessment and developing regulations for gasoline oxygenate use in the future.